San Bernardino County, CA, Biographies
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JOHN G. NORTH
is one of Redlands' most prominent and well known citizens. From a lad of
fifteen he grew up with Riverside, and the years of his youth and young manhood
were spent with his father, Judge North, whose sketch precedes this,
establishing, building up and perfecting the system he has long so ably managed.
Mr. North was born at St. Anthony's Falls (now Minneapolis) Minnesota,
September 16, 1855. The first six years of Mr. North's life were spent in his
native State, and the following year in central New York. He then joined his
father, who had preceded the family to Nevada in 1861. His years on the Pacific
coast were spent in school in Nevada and at the University of the Pacific in
Santa Clara. The family returned East in 1865, and in 1866 located in Knoxville,
Tennessee, where the subject of this sketch continued his studies. In 1870, upon
the founding of the Riverside colony, he joined his father in Riverside, and for
the next four years was the assistant secretary of the colony association, and
in 1872, a telegraph operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company, in
Riverside. Even at that age Mr. North displayed those marked business talents,
which have since become such well-known characteristics. In 1874 he was offered
a position in the United States sub-treasury in San Francisco. His acceptance
took him to that city. After two years' employ in the Sub-Treasury and mint he
entered into mercantile life in San Francisco as cashier and manager in a
leading business house. It was not until 1881 that he returned to Riverside with
his family. In that year he located on his twenty-acre tract on Cypress avenue
and North street, and devoted himself to horticultural pursuits. He did not
confine himself to orange-growing entirely, but was called upon to aid in
Riverside enterprises. He was one of the incorporators of the Citizens' Water
Company, and a director of the same, and also an incorporator and director of
the Riverside Water Company, and from August 11, 1885, to June, 1887, was the
superintendent of the company. He then resigned the position and accepted the
position of land agent for Richard Gird's Chino Ranch, and spent some months at
Pomona. He returned to Riverside in September, 1887, and in March, 1888, was
elected president of the Riverside Water Company. He is a successful
horticulturist, and his orange groves rank among the finest in the colony. He
has also been engaged in real-estate dealing in Riverside and other places; was
president of the Riverside Improvement Company, but in April, 1890, he became
general manager of the Bear Valley Land and Water Company. He now resides in
Redlands. Mr. North is a young man of unbounded energy and sound business-
talents, prompt in action, and straightforward in dealings, well meriting the
confidence reposed in him by the community of Riverside. He is a Republican, and
takes a leading and working part in the affairs of the party. Has been a
delegate in the county conventions since 1881, and in 1886 and 1888 was a
delegate in the State conventions. He is not an office-seeker, but is an earnest
advocate and worker in securing the best men to fill the offices. He is a member
of Masonic Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, of Riverside, and also of
Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112. Knights of Pythias.
In 1878 Mr. North was united in marriage with Miss Augusta C. Nourse, of
Oakland. He has four bright boys, who are the joy and pride of his household,
viz.: John C., Maurice E., Alfred C. and Richard L.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower
California� Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 489-490
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler